Foodies have been enjoying a delicious selection of food from innovative food trucks for years, but do you know when the first food truck was created?
Way back in 1886, a Texas cattle rancher, Charles Goodnight, who is known as the ‘father of the Texas Panhandle’, came up with the chuck wagon to feed hungry cowboys on the go for months at a time herding cattle to market.
This turned out to not only revolutionise how cowboys were fed on long journeys but also paved the way for the creation of mobile food trucks. Charles originally used an old US Army wagon to which he added shelves to accommodate food and cooking equipment as well as medical supplies.
We have come a long way since then…here are five of our fave food trucks to satisfy growling hunger:
Find Brisbane’s most-talked-about mobile wood-fired pizza experience at Dough Job Pizza food truck. Follow the tantalising aromas wafting from the authentic Italian oven to various locations around the city to satisfy cravings for slices with a crisp exterior and fluffy inside; artisanal housemade and hand-stretched dough is lovingly prepared and set to ferment for two days to allow the yeast to work its magic.
Pizzas are baked directly on the oven’s stone allowing the base to cook from beneath and above, along with time to mingle with smoke for an unparalleled flavour – think choices like chicken, spinach, Spanish onion, mozzarella and a drizzle of spicy peri peri sauce. Dough Job can also cater for your next function, event or celebration.
Those seeking authentic Southern California tacos and much more find SoCal Tacos food truck at various locations around Brisbane. This retro food truck parks up at Weller’s Hill Bowls Club in Tarragindi and All Inn Brewing Co in Banyo as well as trundling around the city streets dishing up Mexican fare with flair; you can also hire SoCal for your next corporate or family event or celebration.
Say arriba to street snacks like corn chips, lime paprika salt, SoCal salsa and guacamole, or chow down on BBQ chicken tacos, with corn salsa, guacamole and coriander; perhaps a pulled pork burrito bowl hits the mark, with iceberg, Mexican rice, beans, cheese, pickled slaw, corn chips, guacamole, lime cream, spiced mayo and coriander.
For the most authentic Mexican fare you can find in Mackay, amigos head along Bourke Street to find Jac’s Place. This food truck cantina nestles in a permanent location at the Big 4 Caravan Park in Bucasia, offering visitors and locals alike a little slice of Mexico without leaving Queensland; expect handmade white or blue corn tortillas, burgers in custom-made Italian rolls and the best coffee in town.
Hungry amigos say gracias to handmade tacos such as beef strips, marinated in chilli tomato sauce, with avocado, slaw, pickled onion and cilantro, or devour grilled prawns, housemade chorizo, avocado, cheese, cactus salsa, jalapeños and chilli jam, washed down with a dirty chai latte, or cold brew iced coffee.
Find the freshest seafood Central Queensland has to offer at Pompano Seafood Deli at various locations around Yeppoon. This mobile deli and food truck pops up at markets, picnics, festivals and events, along with stints at Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club and Coorooman Creek, dishing up all manner of seafood temptations sure to hit the mark.
Throw your net over catches like a brioche roll oozing roast and cold smoked salmon, horseradish and fresh chives, the perfect accompaniment to a glass of white wine; perhaps chow down on gourmet pizza slices topped with salt and pepper squid, don’t forget to take home a bowl of signature seafood chowder for a quick and delicious family meal.
Brisbane foodies get their souvlaki fix from That Greek Truck, as it trundles around the city serving authentic fare like Yia-Yia makes. Setting up at various venues, markets and festivals, this food truck has diners salivating over mouth-watering meat marinated in olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano before being barbequed on board.
Kickstart a flavour explosion with Cypriot pork sausages and dipping sauce before wrapping your hands around a warm toasted pita filled with lamb, lettuce, onion, tomato, tzatziki and garlic yoghurt sauce; perhaps opt for an open chicken souvlaki grill with a hearty spinach, pumpkin, beetroot, cashew, cranberry and feta salad, drizzled with balsamic glaze.
